Snowbirds Abandon US Winter Escapes Amid Trade Tensions

For many Canadians, summer officially ends after Labour Day weekend. However, the tradition of escaping winter by heading south to the United States may be broken for a second year in a row due to strained Canada-U.S. relations.

Last year, Canadians pulled back sharply from travel to the U.S., with nearly 10 million fewer trips taken than in 2024, a decline of 25 per cent, according to the Bank of Canada. Recent data shows that while there have been some signs of a thaw in travel, the number of trips remained nearly 25 per cent below levels in June 2024.

Canadian snowbirds who are heading south appear to be keeping their options open longer, with bookings staying in Florida about five days closer to arrival than last year. Nightly rates are also about 8 per cent higher, according to Key Data, which tracks reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and dozens of property-management platforms.

The U.S. has updated its registration guidance for Canadians, making it easier for them to stay in the country without additional paperwork. However, the question remains: where are snowbirds flying this winter?